Combined fuel-oil burner and furnace.



No. 767,601. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. A. J. SMITHSON. COMBINED FUEL OIL BURNER AND FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VE N T0]? Mfg 45 A 770mm No. 767,601.- PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

A. J. SMITHSON. COMBINED FUEL OIL BURNER AND FURNACE.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 5, 1903. no MODEL.

2 SHBETSSHEET 2..

gmkm 0%, 53/3 By A TTO/YNE) UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER J. SMITHSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

COMBINED FUEL-OIL BURNER AND FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,601, dated. August 16, 1904.

Application filed August 5, 1903. erial No. 168,390- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER J. SMITH- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Portland, county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Combined Fuel-Oil Burner and Furnace, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to he accompanying drawings as a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to obtain a furnace which is provided with ahydrocarbonchamber into which is discharged from a suitably-constructed burner a blast of atomized oil and steam or air, such atomized intermixture being then heated to a gasifying degree within the hydrocarbon-chamber, further intermixed with atmospheric air, and the resultant intermixture of highly-inflammable gases being finally discharged into the body of the furnace chamber or lire-box to be there ignited and consumed. The advantages to be gained from such combination and arrangement, among others, are: The furnace is especially adapted to effectively burn crude or other heavier fuel oils, the apparatus is easilykept in good working condition, and the same is almost noiseless when in operation, thus removing one of the objectionable features so common to crude-oil burners.

To accomplish my objects, my burner and the furnace in which the same is used are of the special construction illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of my crude-oil burner. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of the nozzle or discharge end of the burner. Fig. 3 is a section on a line w w of Fig. 1, but on a larger scale.

Fig. A is an elevation of the gland 70. Fig. 5 is a top view of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of my furnace-chamber in which is installed my burner, and Fig. 7 is a plan section on the line y 3 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the characters, my burner A comprises an inner oil-tube I), inserted in a joint or globe 0. ters the joint 0.

An oil-feed pipe (Z also en- On the oil-tube b is inserted a socket e, in which is secured the larger outer tube 60, leaving a steam-space f, and

there is also inserted in the socket c a steampipe f, the end of which enters a head f, through which passes the oil-pipe cl. On the opposite end is a head f Between the two heads f f 2 and inclosing the oil-pipe (Z is a pipe f the intermediate space providing the steam passage-way, and into the head f enters the steam-supply pipe f*. w represents a part of the wall of the fire-box. (Shown in Fig. 6.)

On the exterior of the front or discharge end of the outer tube ais secured a threaded collar it, on which is afliXed a ring or thimble a. constituting the casing for the mixing chamber 1'. On the front end of the tube 6 is afiixed a gland is. The exterior of the latter is provided with spiral ribs in, which serve to hold the front end of the inside tube in central position within the outer tube, 'at the same time allowing an outlet for the steam, and besides such ribs serve to impart a gyrating motion to the head of steam discharging into the mixing-chamber.

The joint or globe c is provided with a stuffing-box Z, through which extends the screwstem m of the valve m. The periphery of the latter is of conical form, comprising three faces of m of of different angles. It will be noticed that the discharge end I) of the oil-tube I) is chamfered and constitutes the seat for the face of or base of the valve. The discharge end Z0 of the gland 1 1: is the point, however, at which the escape of oil from the tube 6 is shut off upon screwing the valve down. The chamfered or beveled surface 6 of the tube bmerely operates as a stop for the valve m and in so doing prevents the valve from locking because of forcing a too tight contact between the surface m of the valve and the rim k of the gland in while adjusting the valve. The necessity for this provision is apparent, because of the sharp edge of the rim 7: being apt to cut into the valve-' surface m in the closing of the valve.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 52, the relative position of the valve m with respect to the discharge end of the steam-pipe a is such as not to entirely close such discharge end even upon the adjustment of the valve to a position entirely closing the discharge end of lings.

dieated by the arrow the gland l: Since it is convenient to shut off the steam by means of a valve, which in practice is provided on the inlet end of the steam-pipe, .1 consider the described construction as preferable in order that the adjustment of the valve m to shut off or regulate the outflow of oil from the tube 7) will never entirely cut off the discharging steam head. The reason for this is that when the flameblast in the furnace is to be extinguished and the outflow of oil is shut off the continuing head of steam is still serviceable to clean the valve m and the walls of the mixing-chamber j of adhering oil; also, to cool off the [irebox. My burner, however, may be readily changed so as to adapt the valve m to shut off the steam head as well as the oil head by raising the position of the outer tube a so as to bring the rim of the discharge end thereof against the valve-surface m upon the valve being shut. The set-collars p 1) p" are provided to make oiltight and steam-tight coup- The diameters of the discharge ends of the tube a and of the gland Z; and the angle of the surface 011. of the valve m are preferably so relatively made that the ratio of the steam head to the oil head will be approximately five of the former to one of the latter.

The intermixed head of oil and steam issuing into the chamber 7' is deflected by the surface 717. of the valve, so as to be impinged upon the wall of such mixingchamber, and is thrown back against the cone-like spreader g, thereby effecting a more thorough intermixture of the oil and steam vapors. The atomized inter-mixture next impinges upon the deflecting-plate a, which operates either to deflect or to spread the emitted head of vapors. The plate a is secured on the projecting end of the valve-stem m by nuts 0 o and may be thus adjusted to either of the two positions shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen adjusted to the position shown by dotted outline a, such plate is converted into what may be termed a spreader by reason of directing the emitted blast of vapors in the course in- In the other or main position such plate a would act to deflect the emitted vapor blast in the course indicated by the arrow .2.

The object of making the plate 9L adjustable, as described, is to enable one to direct the emitted blast of vapors either up against the roof or dome of the arch or chamber a or down upon the floor of said chamber, as may be deemed the more effective for bringing about a thorough intermixture of the gases with the atmospheric air admitted into such arch or chamber a through an annular opening? in the top of the bell '7. Air is admitted into said chamber a through said bell, the air entering the bottom of the bell and escaping through said opening 7 just below the nozzle of the burner through openings 5 and 6 in the grate-bars I).

The bell 7 is made of any suitable material, and it is permanently built in the chamber-a, and the opening 7 in the top thereof is of suflicient size to allow the insertion of the burner A. The grating surrounding the bell within the arch or chamber a is covered by a solid flooring, so as to intercept the downward impinging blasts of combustible gases issuing from the nozzle of the burner and to cause the same to seek an escape through the radial openings into the fire-box. The function of the bell 7 is to inclose and protect against intense heat the burner A, at the same time to supply sufficient atmospheric air at the nozzle of the burner so as to produce a highlyinflammable intermixture of gases in the chamber. From the arch or chamber a such inter-mixture of gases escapes through a series of radially-disposed openings 8, which are provided at the base of the chamber a by supporting such chamber on a series of pillars 9, V-shaped in plan section and leaving a series of radially-disposed openings between them, the span in the base of the walls of the chamber a between such pillars 9 being preferably arched.

The construction of the chamber a and the wall w, encompassing the base of such chamber, is especially designed to bring about as perfect an intermixture of the gases as possible within the short interval of time required for the gases to discharge into the firebox. The blast of gases issuing from the burners nozzle strikes againstthe roof or upper part of the chamber a, is thence impinged upon the floor of such chamber, next such blast escapes through the openings 8, impinges upon the perpendicular interior surface e of the wall 0;, rebounds against the exterior perpendicular wall-surface of the chamber a, and finally escapes through the annular opening '0 into the fire-box, where it is further intermixed with atmospheric air admitted through the grate-bars and is ignited and consumed. The devices 2 and 4 in Fig. 6 respectively represent the furnace-door and the boiler.

When first starting up, it is necessary to build a preliminary fire of ordinary fuel in the fire-box, so as to heat the boiler and obtain steam.

The chamber a completely covering my burner, the fire-box may be used for ordinary fuel without first removing my burner, as is generally required in other furnaces using oilburners. The ashes dropping into the inclosure of the wall '0 are blown out again as soon as my oil-burner is started. The arch or chamber a may be omitted; but the floor-covering for the grating about the bell is indispensable.

In order to allow the valve-stern m to be adjusted from the exterior of the furnace, the end of such stem is provided with a small sprocket-wheel t, on which runs a sprocketchain connected for convenience with a wire IIO or cable running on a pulley 8, provided with an extending handle 8 to turn the pulley s, as required for the proper adjustment of the valve m. The pulley s is rotatably secured on a pin 5 affixed in a T s, secured on the oilpipe d. Instead of using steam compressed air may be supplied through the tube f.

In addition to the ad vantages above pointed out of my burner and furnace the same also possesses the following material advantages: The burner cannot clog, for it has no contracting-vent, and the described construction and arrangement of the valve and its seat al.- lows the discharging blast of steam to immediately clear away any temporary obstruction. It does away with the necessity of independently regulating the discharge of the oil and steam by independent valves. When first starting up my burner, the oil is turned-0n in full force to the-burner, and the steam is also so turned on, or very nearly so, the valve m being still shut. A small head of steam will immediately discharge from the nozzle of my burner by reason of the described arrangement of the valve m, so as not to ordinarily shut off the steam entirely; .but the discharge of the combined blast of oil and steam and the force of such blast are thereafter entirely controlled by operating the valve m. The convenience of being able-to exercise such control by operating but a single valve is obvious.

The opening o directs the discharging blast issuing from the openings 8 of the chamber a in a perpendicular direction, and this prevents such blastfrom strikingdirectly against the walls to of the fire-box, and thereby greatly prolongs the life of such walls.

Having fully described my invention, what Iclaim, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination in a fuel-oil burner of an inner oil-tube, a larger outer tube inclosing said oil-tube, and providing an intermediate steam passage-way, an oil-supply pipe entering the oil-tube, and a steam-supply pipe entering the outer tube; a gland secured on the exterior of the discharge end of the inner tube, such gland being provided with exterior spiral ribs serving to hold the inner tube centrally within the outer tube, and to impart to the discharging head of steam a gyrating motion, a ring 2' secured on the discharge end of the outer tube, and constituting a mixingchamber for the sprays of oil and steam, a valve controlling the discharge end of the oiltube, such valve being provided with a projecting screw-stem m, a cone-like spreader, secured on the head of the valve, and a plate, secured on the head of the spreader, and adapted to control the direction of the discharging blast, substantially as described.

2. A fuel-oil burner comprising an inner oiltube made with a beveled rim 6, a larger outer steam-supply pipe entering the outer tube, a

gland secured on the exterior of the discharge end of the oil-tube, such gland being provided with a rim 70 and with exterior spiral ribs serving to hold the inner tube centrally within the outer tube, and to impart to the discharging head of steam a gyrating motion, a ring 2' secured on the discharge end of the oil-tube and constituting a mixing-chamber for the sprays of oil and steam, a valve controlling the discharge end of the oil-tube and having a projecting screw-stem m, such valve being made with three oblique faces of different angles, m of, m", the face of being adapted to enter the discharge end of the gland hand to make a tight contact with the rim k thereof, the face on) being adapted to be seated on the beveled rim Z1, and thus preventing the locking of the valve, as set forth, and the surface m operating to speed the combined blasts of vaporized oil and steam issuing into the mixing-chamber, a cone-like spreader jsecured on the head of the valve, and a deflecting-plate secured on the head of the spreader and adapted to control the direction of the discharging blast, substantially as described.

3. A fuel-oil burner comprising an inner oiltube 6, outer tube a, socket e in which the tube a is inserted, and through which the tube 6 extends, a globe or joint 0 on the projecting end of the pipe Z), a steam-supply pipe entering the joint 0, a jacket f on the pipe (Z, a steam-supply pipe entering such jacket, and a pipe f connecting such jacket with the socket e, a gland 7t secured on the exterior of the discharge end of the, oil-tube, such gland being made with exterior spiral ribs serving to hold tube 6 centrally within the tube a, and to impart to the discharging head of steam a gyrating motion, a valve m controlling the discharge end of the oil-tube having a screw-stem m projecting through the stufiing-box provided on the joint 0, such valve .being made with three oblique faces of difi erent angles m m m, the face m being adapted to enter the discharge end of the gland 7t, and to make a tight contact with the rim 70 thereof, the face on being adapted to be seated on the beveled rim 7) of the tube 6, and thus preventing the locking of the valve as set forth, and the face 172 serving to spread the combined blasts of vaporized oil and steam issuing into the mixing-chamber, a ring 2' secured on the discharge end of the oil-tube a, and constituting a mixing-chamber for the sprays of oil and steam, a cone-like spreader 7'secured on the head of the valve, 'a deflectingplate at adjustably secured on the head of the spreader to control the direction of the discharging blast, a sprocket-wheel on the end IIO ' of the'valve-stem' m, and a gear for operating such sprocket-wheel and the valve-stern at a distance therefrom, substantially as described.

4. Afuel-oil furnace, comprising a fire-box, a grating in the bottom thereof, an oil-burner inserted into the fire-box through said grating and comprising an inner tube, a larger tube inclosing the latter and providing an intermediate steam passage-way; supply-pipes enteringthe oil-tube and the steam-tube, respectively; a valve adapted to control the discharge ends of the steam-tube and the oil-tube, a projecting screw-stem on said valve, a gear for operating said valve-stem at a distance; a deflector or plate secured over the nozzle of the burner adapted to throw downward the discharging blasts, a bell inclosing that portion of the burner inserted into the lire-box, excepting the nozzle thereof, and having an annular air-opening immediately below said nozzle, anda floor-covering on the grating about the bell for deflecting the impinging blasts, substantially as described.

5. Afuel-oil furnace, comprising a fire-box, a grating in the bottom thereof, an oil-burner inserted into the fire-box through said grating and comprising an inner oil-tube, a larger tube inclosing the latter and providing an intermediate steam passage-way; supply-pipes entering the oil-tube and the steam-tube, respectively; a valve adapted to control the discharge ends of the steam-tube and the oil-tube, a projecting screw-stem on said valve, a gear for operating said valve-stem at a distance; a deflector or plate secured over the nozzle of the burner adapted to throw downward the discharging blasts; a bell inclosing that portion of the burner inserted intothe fire-box, exeepting the nozzle thereof, and having an annular air-opening immediately below said nozzle; an arch or chamber a, inclosing the bell; a floor-covering on the grating about the bell, within the arch, l aving radial openings at the base of the latter; and a perpendicular, annular wall about said openings, to deflect in a perpendicular direction the blasts of gases discharging from said openings, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER J. SMITHSON. Witnesses:

T. J. GEIsLER, NORA MoCLURE. 

